Over a year ago we had the pleasure of reviewing a case that went by the name of the X-QPack, this particular case was built by a company named Aspire. Thing have changed quite a bit in a years time and now we find ourselves ready to review the 2nd version of this Micro-ATX case and Aspire has changed their name to Apevia. So come on along as we look at this new case and see if it has made it improvements over the original model.

Today we look at the revised X-Qpack case from Apevia and focus upon the changes from the earlier version. Come have a look and see what is new. It doesn't seem like it was two years ago that I reviewed the Aspire X-Qpack case here at BE. Time flies, change is inevitable, Aspire is now Apevia, and the X-Qpack Version 2 is upon us. But as the saying goes, the more things change the more they stay the same - is the X-Qpack Version II much different than its predecessor?

Formerly Aspire, Apevia changed their name about a year ago, primarily to avoid confusion with Acer's Aspire line of products. After a year with the new name, Apevia hasn't changed much, as they continue to pump out colorful and flamboyant enclosures, power supplies, fans, keyboards, mice and other accessories. Last year we looked at Apevia's X-Pleasure, which gave us a good look at one of their full tower lines, and this time around we're examining the X-QPack2, an upgraded case from their previous QPack line of SFF (small form factors) enclosures.

The X-QPack 2 small form factor mATX case from Apevia is the company's latest chassis offering. Apevia is the new name for Aspire International, which was known for its X-Dreamer and X-Infinity series of cases, as well as fans and other accessories. This review checks out the X-QPack 2, which is the new version of the original X-QPack case. It features a new design, better power supply, and even more style than the original X-QPACK. Let's take a look!

The front bezel of the second generation Qpack has been redesigned with a much more stylish look. The front bezel is in a two piece format, with the color front panel slightly raised and in the shape of an X. Within the colored X are two 5.25" and one 3.5" bays. Next to the 3.5" bay is the LCD temperature display. Below the drive bays is the steel carrying handle, which comes in handy for the LAN trips. Also in this X area are the front panel connections, which included two USB, one IEEE, and Audio ports - not to mention the power and reset buttons and LED's. The last thing worth mentioning on the front bezel are the vented openings on either side of the X.

The Apevia X-QPack2 is the follow-up model to the original X-QPack. While I've never had the opportunity of using the original QPack, I'm very interested in seeing how the X-QPack2 stacks up to my other cube case experiences.

Small form factor computers have come a long way in flexibility and performance but there are still a number of limits associated with most direct from the manufacturer models. Typically, motherboards, let alone case specific connection are proprietary, and upgrading these devices is easier said than done. Unless you purchase a motherboard from the same manufacturer, there's no guarantee that some of these chassis connections (such as the external USB and audio connections) will fit. Also, 90% of the typical SFFs have limited expansion options as you'll usually find only one graphics slot (PCI Express) and one PCI slot. Add to this the meager power supplies and thermal challenges as processors get faster, and from an enthusiast point of view, these SFFs are not an ideal solution.